The U.S. Department of Defense and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) have announced a groundbreaking partnership to accelerate the development of treatments against Nipah virus, a deadly pathogen that kills up to 75% of those it infects. The collaboration, formalized through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) on May 28, 2025, represents a significant step forward in addressing one of the world's most lethal emerging infectious diseases.
First Project Targets Nipah Monoclonal Antibody
The initial focus of this partnership centers on advancing a promising monoclonal antibody treatment designated MBP1F5. The Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND) will transfer doses of this experimental therapy, currently undergoing Phase 1 testing, to CEPI for expanded clinical evaluation.
CEPI will conduct a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial of MBP1F5 in India and Bangladesh, two countries that experience Nipah virus outbreaks almost annually. This strategic decision to test the treatment in endemic regions will provide crucial real-world data on the antibody's effectiveness in populations most at risk.
Addressing Critical Unmet Medical Need
Nipah virus, a zoonotic disease belonging to the Paramyxovirus family, represents one of the most urgent threats in global health security. Currently, no approved treatments or vaccines exist to defend against this pathogen, leaving healthcare providers with limited options when outbreaks occur.
The virus's devastating mortality rate of up to 75% underscores the critical importance of developing effective interventions. While outbreaks have historically been confined to South and Southeast Asia, the global distribution of Pteropus bats—the virus's natural reservoir—spans regions inhabited by more than 2 billion people, highlighting the potential for broader geographic spread.
Strategic Defense Partnership
Bruce Goodwin, Joint Project Lead for CBRND Enabling Biotechnologies at JPEO-CBRND, emphasized the strategic importance of this collaboration. "Our goal is to provide the U.S. joint force with rapid, resilient, and operationally relevant solutions to protect and defend them against any threat they may face across the globe," Goodwin stated. "This partnership with CEPI helps us achieve that goal faster."
The CRADA framework establishes a foundation for ongoing collaboration between the two organizations, with potential for joint identification of future projects supporting global health security and emergency response capabilities.
Broader Vaccine Development Landscape
While this partnership focuses on therapeutic antibody development, the broader Nipah vaccine landscape continues to evolve. The World Health Organization has identified multiple vaccine platforms under development, including live-attenuated and replication-defective recombinant vaccines based on poxviruses, VSV, adenovirus, measles, rabies, and virus-like particles, as well as subunit vaccines.
CEPI has previously invested $100 million in four Nipah vaccine candidates, demonstrating sustained commitment to addressing this global health threat through multiple therapeutic approaches.
Clinical Trial Implications
The planned Phase 1b/2a trial in endemic regions represents a crucial step in the monoclonal antibody's development pathway. Testing MBP1F5 in India and Bangladesh will provide essential safety and efficacy data in populations with potential natural exposure to the virus, offering insights that laboratory studies cannot replicate.
This geographic focus also ensures that if the treatment proves successful, it will be readily available in regions where it is most urgently needed, potentially saving lives during future outbreaks.
The partnership between JPEO-CBRND and CEPI exemplifies how military and civilian health organizations can collaborate effectively to address global health security challenges, leveraging complementary expertise and resources to accelerate the development of life-saving medical countermeasures.
